Activists, who for years campaigned for such a move, called it a turning point.
Friday, June 26, 2020
UPDATimes - The majority of the Minneapolis City Council, United States, promised to overhaul the local police department, an important step in the middle of a national protest that sparked the death of George Floyd last month.
Nine of the 13 councilors said "a new concept of public safety" would be brewed in a city where law enforcement officials were accused of racism.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, previously opposed the move, which had time to reap ridicule.
Activists, who for years campaigned for such a move, called it a turning point.
However, some parties consider this step will be a long and complicated debate.
Previously, Floyd's death at the hands of the police had triggered a wave of anti-racism protests that have continued to this day in a number of countries.
Floyd's funeral is scheduled for Tuesday (9/6) in Houston, his hometown before he moved to Minneapolis.
The demonstration began after a video emerged showing a 46-year-old black American clasped his neck on the asphalt, a white police officer pressed his neck with his knee for almost nine minutes.
Derek Chauvin has been fired and charged with murder. Three other police officers who were at the scene have also been fired and charged with helping and abetting.
What was the statement of the Minneapolis City Council member?
The protesters voiced "Defund the police" or stop the flow of funds towards police institutions in various demonstrations throughout the states in the US.
"... It is clear that our current police and public security system does not maintain the security of our community," said City Council President Lisa Bender. "Our efforts have failed."
Bender said detailed plans to improve the police department would be discussed further, adding that he would try to shift the police budget to community-based strategic policies.
Meanwhile, Alondra Cano councilor tweeted on Twitter that "the majority of councilors agreed that the city's police department" cannot be reformed and that they will end the current police system ".
Last week, Minnesota launched a civil rights investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department, and Governor Tim Walz said he wanted to eradicate "systemic racism".
The city council then voted to make several changes in the body of the police, including the prohibition of police officers from pressing down on the neck of the suspect.
The process aims to create a transformative new model, to foster safety in the city of Minnesota region. The resolution stated that the death of George Floyd by a white police officer named Derek Chauvin on May 25 was a tragedy. The event proves a series of reforms will prevent violence and harassment from law enforcement to the community, especially blacks and colored citizens. "Together, we will identify to get what is best for our community," the resolution reads. The plan, the city council will call all stakeholders to discuss the prevention of violence, racial equality, community relations, civil rights, to emergency services 911. The step was taken after a few days before, the Minneapolis council agreed to dissolve the police force and replace it with a community-based security system.
City council president Lisa Bender explained, they responded to the urge to reduce violence due to the authorities and increase public security. "We invite citizens to create long-term change, resting on those most affected by violence," explained Bender. He explained, along with other city council members, they planned to propose to the public during the November 3 elections. Some activists said the move taken by the city council was a form of "denudation of the police". While the community voiced doubts, where the city government should carry out reforms, not instead dissolve them. A total of 40 police officers then signed an open letter Thursday (06/11/2020), condemning Derek Chauvin's action on George Floyd. "The action does not describe us," the letter said.
What was the reaction to the attitude of the City Council?
The reform plan in Minneapolis on how to act against the police is likely to be a long and complicated debate.
However, the process of setting up a new system will probably take months, and there is no guarantee that this will be done because there is resistance from the camp who reject it.
Responding to the announcement, Kandace Montgomery, head of Black Vision, a group that campaigns for anti-racism in Minnesota, said:
"It shouldn't be necessary until many victims die to bring us here. We are safer without an armed state-backed patrol that is hunting black people."
On Monday, the Democratic Party faction in Congress planned to advocate a law on police reform.
What happened elsewhere?
The Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, said he would divert funds from the city police to various social services
"Defund the police" or calls to stop the flow of funds to police institutions have been shouted at in recent demonstrations, which sometimes break into violence and looting.
Supporters of "defunding" for years have condemned what they call aggressive military police in the US.
They argue that the police department's budget should be cut and funds diverted to social programs to avoid unnecessary confrontation and restore racial inequality.
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